Assembly for A Gaming Machine and Player Interface

ABSTRACT

Certain embodiments relate to gaming machines and in particular to electronic gaming machines having a monitor and one or more than touch sensitive screen. The touch sensitive screen is releasably or detectably mounted in front of the monitor so that in the event of either one of the touch screen or the monitor failing, the failed item and be removed, and replaced or service as desired.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority to AustralianProvisional Patent Application No. 2007906097, filed on Nov. 5, 2007,entitled “AN ASSEMBLY FOR A GAMING MACHINE AND PLAYER INTERFACE”, whichis herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention relates to an assembly for a gaming machine and inparticular to an assembly for a gaming machine having a monitor and atouch screen.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Electronic gaming machines typically have one or more monitors eachhaving a display screen for presenting information to the player. Use ofthe machines involves the player making various selections or choices onhow the game is operated or played. Touch sensitive screens and monitorshave been combined in gaming machines whereby images on the displayscreen align with calibrated regions of the touch screen such thatpressing the touch screen based on the images appearing in the imagesassimilates with selecting the particular images appearing in thedisplay screen.

In simple terms, the outside structure of a gaming machine may bedescribed as a robust cabinet containing the working components of themachine, wherein the cabinet includes a rear casing section and a frontdoor that is pivotally mounted to the casing to secure the components inthe cabinet and allow maintenance and servicing of the components asrequired. Touch screens and monitors have in the past been installed ina manner in which the touch screen is bonded to the face of the monitorusing an adhesive and in particular, double sided-tape supplied by 3M.In our experience, double sided tape provides a very strong bond betweenthe touch screen and the monitor. In one particular installation, thecombination of the monitor and touch screen are bonded together andmounted inside the cabinet and a window in the front door allows imageson the monitor to be observed and the touch screen pressed by a player.A rubberized medium is located around the perimeter of the window in thefront door which is intended to form a liquid tight seal with the touchscreen when the door is closed. In an alternative installation, thecombination of the monitor and touch screen are mounted directly to thedoor with the monitor and touch screen coinciding with the window in thedoor. Again a rubberized medium is located around the perimeter of thewindow to form a liquid tight seal with the touch screen. It isgenerally more difficult to perform maintenance on the laterinstallation on account of the combined weight of the monitor and touchscreen having a substantial contribution to the weight of the door.

In any event, a difficulty with both installations is that if the touchscreen or monitor fail or are damaged, it is not possible tosuccessfully release the adhesive to allow the non-defective item,whether it be the monitor or touch screen to be reused. In other words,if the touch screen fails, both the touch screen and monitor arerendered unusable and if the monitor fails, again both the touch screenand monitor are rendered unusable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an embodiment of the present invention there is provided anassembly for the front portion of a gaming machine, the assemblyincluding:

i) a touch sensitive screen; and

ii) a panel having one or more than one opening over which the touchsensitive screen is mounted, wherein the panel is adapted to form atleast part of the front portion of a gaming machine and locate the touchsensitive screen in relationship to a monitor of a gaming machine.

According to an embodiment of the present invention there is alsoprovided a player interface that is, at least in part, used to operate agaming machine, the player interface including:

i) a monitor for displaying images that relate to the operation of thegaming machine; and

ii) a mounting assembly including a touch sensitive screen, the mountingassembly locating the touching screen in front of the monitor so thatthe touch screen can be operated in association with the images on themonitor, and wherein the mounting assembly is operable so as to be ableto move the touch screen between an operative position in which thetouch screen is located in front of the monitor and an inoperativeposition in which the touch screen is displaced from the monitor and inwhich a player is unable to use the touch screen in associate with themonitor.

The terms “monitor” or “display” have been used synonymously throughoutthis specification and mean any electric or video display including CRTscreens, LCD screens, plasma screens, OLED screens or any otherelectronic display.

In an embodiment, the mounting assembly includes an openable andcloseable panel having an aperture or opening through which the monitorcan be seen when closed, and the touch sensitive screen is located overthe aperture and located in the operative position when the panel isclosed.

In an embodiment, the panel is pivotally mounted to a gaming machine andcan be pivoted between opened and closed positions.

According to an embodiment of the present invention there is provided agaming machine assembly including:

i) a cabinet for containing components of the machine, the cabinethaving an openable and closeable front panel to allow access to at leastsome of the components of the machine;

ii) at least one monitor located inside the cabinet and the front panelhaving an opening through which a display screen of the at least onemonitor can be observed when the front panel is located in a closedposition; and

iii) a touch sensitive screen over the opening of the front panel andbeing located in an operative position with the images on at least onedisplay screen when the front panel is located in a closed position andan inoperative position when the front is opened in which the touchscreen is displaced from the monitor to prevent a player from using thetouch screen in associate with the monitor.

In an embodiment, the front panel of the cabinet has one or more thanopening over which at least a part of the touch sensitive screen ismounted.

It is within the scope of the present invention that in an embodimentthe touch screen may be used in respect of, and overlap multiplemonitors in a single gaming machine. In the situation where anembodiment is in the form of a gaming machine assembly having multiplemonitors, suitably at least one of the monitors, and optionally, two ofthe monitors each have a dedicated touch screen.

In an embodiment, the panel is pivotally mounted to a gaming machine andcan be pivoted between opened and closed positions.

In an embodiment, the panel is in the form of a pivotally mounted dooror hatch that, when located in a closed position, forms at least part ofthe front face of a gaming machine.

In an embodiment, a liquid-tight seal is formed between the touch screenand the panel. Suitably, a rubber sealing ring contacting the panel andtouch screen forms a liquid-tight seal.

In an embodiment, the touch screen is able to be removed and substitutedwith a fresh replacement touch screen.

In an embodiment, the touch screen is bonded directly or indirectly tothe panel by hot or cold glue adhesives or tape adhesive includingdouble sided-tape adhesives.

In an embodiment, the touch screen is mounted directly or indirectly tothe panel by any one for a combination of: brackets, angular sectionsthat receive the touch screen, or fasteners including screws, bolts,nails and rivets.

In a situation where the assembly for forming the front of the gamingmachine has been incorporated in a gaming machine and is located in anoperative position, preferably the spacing between the touch screen thedisplay screen of the monitor is less than or equal to 20 mm, andsuitably less than or equal to 10 mm. Even more preferably the touchscreen is located less than 5 mm from the display screen of the monitorand suitably in the range of 1 to 4 mm.

According to an alternative embodiment, the invention may be in the formof an assembly for a gaming machine, the assembly including:

-   -   i) a touch sensitive screen; and    -   ii) a monitor on which symbols or images relating to a game        being played can be displayed, the touch screen being mounted in        a non-permanent manner that allows the touch screen and monitor        to be separated.

According to yet another alternative embodiment, the invention may be inthe form of an assembly for a gaming machine, the assembly including:

-   -   i) a touch sensitive screen; and    -   ii) a monitor on which symbols or images relating to a game        being played can be displayed, wherein the touch screen is        releasably mounted in front of the monitor to allow either one        of the touch screen or the monitor can be repaired, replaced or        removed as desired.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the touch screenmay be directly or indirectly mounted or attached to the monitor. Forinstance, in the situation in which the releasable connection isdirectly between the touch screen and the monitor, or alternativelybetween a panel to which the touch screen is attached and the monitor(i.e. indirect connection), the releasable connection may be provided byany suitable fastening system including screws, bolts, clamps,co-operating snap lock fittings and even releasable adhesives.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments will now be described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a gaming machine with a front door ofthe machine opened to allow access to the working components of themachine including a touch screen and monitor;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional side view of a gaming machine through theaxis A to A in FIG. 1 with the front door of the gaming machine in aclosed position;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of a monitor and touch screenof the gaming machine shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detailed cross sectional view illustrating a fasteningsystem for mounting a touch screen to the front door of a gaming machineas shown in FIGS. 1 to 3; and

FIG. 5 is a detailed cross sectional view illustrating an alternativefastening system for mounting a touch screen to the front door of agaming machine as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofcertain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understoodwhen read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, certain embodiments are shown in thedrawings. It should be understood, however, that the present inventionis not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in theattached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

The Figures illustrate a gaming machine 10 having a monitor displayscreen 11 and a touch screen 12, wherein the display screen 11 showsimages relating to the operation of the machine 10 and regions of thetouch screen 12 that have been calibrated such that during operation aplayer pressing sections of the touch screen 12 is able to makeselections based on the images on the display screen 11.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a gaming machine 10having a cabinet including a rear casing 13 and a front door 14 that ispivotally mounted to the casing 13 by side hinges 28 oriented to pivotthe front door 14 about an upright left axis. According to analternative embodiment it is possible for the hinges 15 to be mountedalong the top, bottom or right hand side of the rear casing.

The working components of the gaming machine contained in the rearcasing include the display screen 11 for showing images to a playerrelating to the operation of the gaming machine, processor units 16relating to wager gambling systems, and other electronic circuitry forgenerating signals such as signals to audio speakers 17 and lightingsystems. It should be understood that numerous other components mayexist and may be used in a number of combinations to create variousforms of a gaming machine.

Operation of the gaming machine 10 may involve a player pressing buttonslocated on a mid-trim 15 projecting outwardly from the front door 14. Inaddition to press buttons, operation of the machine involves use of atouch sensitive screen 12 mounted to the front door 14 that overlaps anopening or aperture 20 in the front door 14 through which images on thedisplay screen are observed. In one form not illustrated, the pressbuttons on the mid-trim 15 may be excluded from the design of the gamingmachine and operation of the gaming machine controlled entirely by oneor multiple touch screens 12 that are calibrated in association withone, or possibly more than one, display screen 11. FIG. 1 illustratesthe situation in which a single touch screen 12 has been mounted to theinner face of the front door 14 such that when the front door 14 islocated in a closed position, the entire touch screen 12 overlaps withthe display screen 11. However, it is possible for a single touch screen12 to be used in association with two or more display screens 11 oralternatively, two or more touch screens 12 may each be associated withindividual display screens 11.

In the situation in FIGS. 1 and 2, a single touch screen 12 is mountedto the inner face of the front door 14 in a manner such that thepressure sensitive face of the touch screen 12 can be operated by aplayer in front of the door 14. In the event of damage to the touchscreen 12 maintenance can be performed to the touch screen 12 oralternatively, the touch screen 12 can be removed from the door 14 andreplaced with a new touch screen 12.

Throughout this specification the terms “touch screen” and “touchsensitive screen” are used synonymously and embrace any transparentmedium having an outer sensitive face such as the touch screensavailable from 3M under the brands MICROTOUCH™ and CLEARTEK™. Suchproducts are predominantly in the form of a transparent or translucentsubstrate such as glass to which the touch sensitive characteristicshave been incorporated.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view illustrating the monitordisplay screen 11 and a touch sensitive screen 12 mounted to the innerface of the front door 14 with the door located in a closed position. Ascan be seen, the touch screen is spaced from the surface of the displayscreen of the monitor by a small gap 18, preferably less than 10 mm andsuitably in the range of 1-4 mm. In our experience, if the gap 18 isallowed to extend beyond 20 mm, a player may experience difficulties inoperating the gaming machine on account of parallax effects. Accordingto alternative embodiments, it is possible for the touch screen to bemounting intermediate the inner and outside faces of the front door, orin the situation in which the door has a thin profile, at or toward theouter face of the front door. In any event, when the touch screen in isan operative position, ideally the touch screen is less than 10 mm fromthe display screen.

In addition, a sealing ring 23 in contact with the touch screen 12 andthe framework and/or the front door 14 will prevent liquid on theoutside of touch screen 12 from passing into the cabinet of the gamingmachine 10.

FIG. 4 is a detailed cross sectional view illustrating one possibleconfiguration by which the touch sensitive screen is mounted to thefront door 14 of the gaming machine 10. Specifically, the touchsensitive screen 12 is bonded directly to a facial framework 19 definingan opening. The medium used for bonding the touch sensitive screen 12 tothe framework 19 may be a hot or cold melt glue adhesive such as a twopart epoxy adhesive or any other type of adhesive that is applied as aliquid or paste between the touch sensitive screen and the frame.Similarly, the touch sensitive screen 12 may be bonded directly to theframe by single or double sided adhesive tape 21. The framework 19 towhich the touch sensitive screen is bonded may be an integral part ofthe door itself or, alternatively the frame work may be directly orindirectly fitted to the front door. As can be seen in FIG. 4, aprotective tape 22 is may be fitted to the perimeter of the touchsensitive screen 12 to prevent lacerating oneself on the edge of thetouch screen 12.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative configuration whereby the touchsensitive screen 12 is mounted to a fascia frame 19 by way of a Z-shapedor step shape bracket 24 which defines a shoulder that receives asection of the perimeter of the touch screen and clamps the touch screento an abutment surface 25 of the fascia frame 19 by way of a fasteningscrew or rivet 26. As can be seen in FIG. 5, the fascia frame 19includes a curved abutment surface 19 in contact with one side of thetouch screen 12 and the bracket 24 on the opposite side of the touchscreen 12. The fascia frame 19 may be directly or indirectly attached tothe front door 14 of the gaming machine 10 or alternatively, integrallyformed with the front door 14. A tape or cushioning material 22 may besecured around the perimeter of the touch sensitive panel to preventchipping or scratching of the touch sensitive panel.

In addition, the abutment surface 25 of the fascia frame 19 is providedwith a liquid tight seal in the form of a rubberized boot 27 positionedover the abutment surface 25 of the fascia frame 19, thereby preventingthe ingress or liquid spilt on the touch screen 12 into the gamingmachine.

In order to minimize parallax effects, it is recommended that thethickness of the base substrate glass of the touch screen 12 be lessthan 10 mm, and suitably in the range of 2-4 mm.

With respect to preferred embodiment or any other embodiment prior touse of the gaming machine by a player, regions of the touch screen 11are calibrated to assimilate with the location of images on the displayscreen relating to operation of the gaming machine 10. In the event thatthe alignment of the touch screen 11 and display screen 11 shifts duringuse, the position of the touch screen 12 on the inside face of the frontdoor 14 can be tightened and if necessary, the display screen 11 andtouch screen 12 recalibrated. However, it will be appreciated that touchscreens 12 such as the 3M CLEARTEK™ touch screen has the capacity forerror margins with the calibrated regions and, therefore, minor shiftsbetween the display screen 11 of the monitor and the location of thetouch screen 12 may not require recalibration. In the event of asignificant equipment failure, such as the fracture of the glasssubstrate of the touch screen 12, the touch screen 12 can be removed andreplaced with a new touch screen 12 and the gaming machine re-calibratedduring conventional maintenance or servicing.

Those skilled in the art of the present invention will appreciate thatmany modifications and variations may be made to the preferredembodiment without departing from the spirit and scope from the presentinvention.

For example, certain embodiments involve securing the touch sensitivescreen directly to a region adjacent to the perimeter of an opening inthe front door of a gaming machine. However, it is possible that thetouch screen may be mounted in an operative position in front of thedisplay screen of the monitor without direct attachment to the frontdoor, and indeed, at a location inside the cabinet of the gamingmachine. Specifically, the touch screen may be mounted to frameworkpositioned inside the cabinet without direct attachment to the displayscreen of the monitor or the door of the gaming machine.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of certainembodiments of the present invention, except where the context indicatesotherwise due to express language or necessary implication, the word“comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used inan inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated featuresbut not to preclude the presence or addition of further features invarious embodiments of the invention.

Several embodiments are described above with reference to the drawings.These drawings illustrate certain details of specific embodiments thatimplement the systems and methods and programs of the present invention.However, describing the invention with drawings should not be construedas imposing on the invention any limitations associated with featuresshown in the drawings. The present invention contemplates methods,systems and program products on any electronic device and/ormachine-readable media suitable for accomplishing its operations.Certain embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using anexisting computer processor and/or by a special purpose computerprocessor incorporated for this or another purpose or by a hardwiredsystem, for example.

Embodiments within the scope of the present invention include programproducts comprising machine-readable media for carrying or havingmachine-executable instructions or data structures stored thereon. Suchmachine-readable media can be any available media that can be accessedby a general purpose or special purpose computer or other machine with aprocessor. By way of example, such machine-readable media may compriseRAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash, CD-ROM or other optical diskstorage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or anyother medium which can be used to carry or store desired program code inthe form of machine-executable instructions or data structures and whichcan be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer orother machine with a processor. When information is transferred orprovided over a network or another communications connection (eitherhardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired or wireless) to amachine, the machine properly views the connection as a machine-readablemedium. Thus, any such a connection is properly termed amachine-readable medium. Combinations of the above are also includedwithin the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executableinstructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purposeprocessing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions.

Method steps associated with certain embodiments may be implemented inone embodiment by a program product including machine-executableinstructions, such as program code, for example in the form of programmodules executed by machines in networked environments. Generally,program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, datastructures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particularabstract data types. Machine-executable instructions, associated datastructures, and program modules represent examples of program code forexecuting steps of the methods disclosed herein. The particular sequenceof such executable instructions or associated data structures representsexamples of corresponding acts for implementing the functions describedin such steps.

1. An assembly for the front portion of a gaming machine, the assemblycomprising: i) a touch sensitive screen; and ii) a panel having one ormore than one opening over which the touch sensitive screen is mounted,wherein the panel is adapted to form at least part of the front portionof a gaming machine and locate the touch sensitive screen inrelationship to a monitor of a gaming machine.
 2. The assembly accordingto claim 1, wherein the panel is in the form of a door or hatch that canbe mounted to form at least part of the front face of the gamingmachine.
 3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein a liquid-tightseal is formed between the touch screen and the panel.
 4. The assemblyaccording to claim 3, wherein the liquid-tight seal is provided by arubberised sealing ring contacting the panel and touch screen.
 5. Theassembly according to claim 1, wherein the touch screen is able to beremoved and substituted with a fresh replacement touch screen.
 6. Theassembly according to claim 1, wherein the touch screen is bondeddirectly or indirectly to the panel by hot or cold glue adhesives ortape adhesive including double sided-tape adhesives.
 7. The assemblyaccording to claim 1, wherein the touch screen is mounted directly orindirectly to the panel by any one for a combination of: brackets,angular sections that receive the touch screen, or fasteners includingscrews, bolts, nails and rivets.
 8. A player interface that is, at leastin part, used to operate a gaming machine, the player interfacecomprising: i) a monitor for displaying images that relate to theoperation of the gaming machine; and ii) a mounting assembly including atouch sensitive screen, the mounting assembly locating the touchingscreen in front of the monitor so that the touch screen can be operatedin association with the images on the monitor, and wherein the mountingassembly is operable so as to be able to move the touch screen betweenan operative position in which the touch screen is located in front ofthe monitor and an inoperative position in which the touch screen isdisplaced from the monitor and in which a player is unable to use thetouch screen in associate with the monitor.
 9. The player interfaceaccording to claim 8, wherein the mounting assembly includes an open andcloseable panel having an aperture or opening through which the monitorcan be seen when closed, and the touch sensitive screen is located overthe aperture and located in the operative position when the panel isclosed.
 10. The player interface according to claim 8, wherein the panelis pivotally mounted to a gaming machine and can be pivoted betweenopened and closed positions.
 11. The player interface according to claim10, wherein the panel is in the form of a pivotally mounted door orhatch that when located in a closed position forms at least part of thefront face of a gaming machine.
 12. The player interface according toclaim 8, wherein liquid-tight seal is formed between the touch screenand the panel.
 13. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein the touchscreen is able to be removed and substituted with a fresh replacementtouch screen.
 14. The player interface according to claim 8, wherebywhen the touch screen is located in an operative position, a gap orspacing between the touch screen and the display screen of the monitoris less than or equal to 20 mm.
 15. The player interface according toclaim 8, whereby when the touch screen is located in an operativeposition, a gap or spacing between the touch screen and the displayscreen of the monitor is less than 10 mm and suitably in the range of 1to 4 mm.
 16. A gaming machine assembly comprising: i) a cabinet forcontaining components of the machine, the cabinet having an openable andcloseable front panel to allow access to at least some of the componentsof the machine; ii) at least one monitor located inside the cabinet andthe front panel having an opening through which a display screen of theat least one monitor can be observed when the front panel is located ina closed position; and iii) a touch sensitive screen over the opening ofthe front panel and being located in an operative position with theimages on at least one display screen when the front panel is located ina closed position and an inoperative position when the front is openedin which the touch screen is displaced from the monitor to prevent aplayer from using the touch screen in associate with the monitor. 17.The gaming machine according to claim 16, wherein the front panel of thecabinet has one or more than opening over which at least a part of thetouch sensitive screen is mounted.
 18. The gaming machine according toclaim 16, wherein the machine includes multiple monitors and one of saidtouch screens is operable in respect of two or more of the displayscreens of the monitors.
 19. The gaming machine according to claim 16,wherein the machine includes multiple monitors and a touch screen isoperable in respect of the touch screens of the monitors.
 20. The gamingmachine according to claim 16, wherein a liquid-tight seal is formedbetween the touch screen and the panel.
 21. The assembly according toclaim 16, wherein the touch screen is able to be removed and substitutedwith a fresh replacement touch screen.
 22. The gaming machine accordingto claim 16, wherein the front panel is pivotally mounted to a gamingmachine and can be pivoted between opened and closed positions.
 23. Thegaming machine according to claim 16, wherein the panel is in the formof a pivotally mounted door or hatch that when located in a closedposition forms at least part of the front face of a gaming machine. 24.An assembly for a gaming machine, the assembly comprising: i) a touchsensitive screen; and ii) a monitor on which symbols or images relatingto a game being played can be displayed, the touch screen beingreleasably mounted in front of the monitor so as to allow each to beseparated from each other during servicing and either one of the touchscreen or the monitor can be repaired, replaced or removed as desired.25. The assembly according to claim 24, wherein the touch screen isreleasably mounted to the monitor or a panel that is attached to themonitor via fasteners such as, but by no means limited to screws, bolts,rivots, clamps, snap lock fittings or adhesives.